Simon Cowell

You know, I often think that if we normal people would just ignore all things Kardashian, the family would slowly fade into obscurity. Of course, I realize the irony of me wishing this would happen while blogging about them. I also realize it is never going to happen if non-normal (read: wacky celebs and "news correspondents") people keep giving them the time of day.

That said, I have an announcement to make. I am now watching Good Morning America for the first time ever. I don't know why I waited this long as I think George Stephanopoulos is hot, and I adore Amy Robach. The TODAY Show is dead to me. I'm sorry, Al Roker. I'll always think highly of you, as I know the show stripped you of extra time with your best pal Ann Curry, but to Matt Lauer (I blame you for Ann!) and the rest of the morning show's cronies, I say, for shame. (P.S. I still heart you, Willie Geist!)

Demi, L.A., Britney and Simon also participated in a Handprint Ceremony before the premiere. Seems a little early to be cementing their "iconic" status when the show is only beginning its second season, no?

Simon is pulling out all the stops, making sure everyone knows that The X Factor starts this week!

CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR MORE – INCLUDING THE PHOTO GALLERY!

While Nicole and Steve’s firings are not much of a surprise, Paula’s firing is a major shocker as Simon personally recruited her to be on the show after she was let go from American Idol.

Sources reveal Paula got the bad news yesterday and has yet to hear from Simon. Simon has reportedly yet to find replacements for Paula, Nicole and Steve.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Simon, who helped create the show, recently assembled the show’s creative team for a top secret meeting in the UK. The reason for the meeting was reportedly to analyze “what went wrong and what was done right on season one.”

There are reports that Simon is wanting to move in the direction of NBC’s The Voice by adding bigger name judges as a way to boost ratings. The Voice, which returns on February 6, features judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.

Fans of The X Factor are still outraged following last week’s shocking elimination which sent teen favorite Rachel Crow packing!

Judge Nicole Scherzinger felt the most criticism as her decision to allow a voting deadlock when she eliminated Rachel over Marcus Canty ultimately sent Rachel packing.

See, after Rachel and Marcus — who were in the Bottom two last Thursday — sang their last chance songs, judge L.A. Reid picked Rachel to go home. Simon Cowelland Paula Abdul then voted off Marcus. This left the last and deciding vote to Nicole. Nicole, who perhaps failed to realize her duties as a judge, then stated she didn’t want to be the deciding vote and picked Rachel to send the vote into a deadlock.

Unfortunately for 13-year-old Rachel, she ended up having the least amount of votes by the public, and was sent packing. Fans of the show were livid with Nicole for her indecisiveness, that is until TMZ posted a story stating Paula was the one who told Nicole to vote off Rachel.

In a video clip obtained by TMZ, Paula can be heared whispering to Nicole, “Just let it go to a deadlock.” Which is exactly what Nicole did.

Paula is now defending herself, stating her comments were taken out of context during her Monday night appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show alongside Nicole and the other judges. Though I’m not quite sure how “just let it go to a deadlock” could be taken out of context.

“That’s how they interpreted it,” said Paula of TMZ’s spin on the video footage. “I adore [Nicole] and know what she was feeling like [having to send someone home.]” Nicole added, “In the moment and under pressure, it’s not as easy to say ‘you’re going home.’ I own the decision I made right then.”

As for Rachel, things are looking up for the teen with TMZ reporting Disney is now looking to sign her… and have already set up a meeting to go through a list of opportunities including TV, movies and radio.

Meanwhile, Rachel’s breakdown upon hearing she was eliminated from the show (she started brawling and fell to the ground) now has people questioning whether the show needs to raise its age limit as the younger ones are simply unable to deal with the public scrutiny. Another example of this was 15-year-old Astro’s meltdown a while back upon being told he was in the bottom 2. He first refused to perform before ultimately apologizing.

[Photos Credit: WENN]

TELL US – SHOULD RACHEL HAVE WENT HOME? IS PAULA OR NICOLE TO BLAME? DOES THE AGE LIMIT NEED TO BE RAISED?

The popular show released a preview of what’s to come during Game 4 of the World Series letting us know, without question, all of last year’s judges: Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson, and Jennifer Lopez will be returning. Along with debonair host with the most, Ryan Seacrest!

Unlike the cantankerous behavior of former judging panels these judges are the best of friends on camera. “They’re like my brothers and they drive me crazy like brothers, too,” Jennifer described of Steven and Randy. “But we love each other, which is why we’ve become like a family.” Well, as family I wish somebody would talk to Jennifer about her on-set wardrobe! It was a standout last season – and not in a good way.

And since it’s another season without Simon Cowell to be the blunt voice of reason, Jennifer is assuring us this year the judges are “a little tougher on everybody.” Oooohh… good! No more constant praise – we want to see some snark!

Jennifer tells PEOPLE that being too nice wasn’t necessarily the way to go. “Because of last season and the standard that we set, it’s easy to go, ‘Is he as good as even our top 24 from last year?’ ” I guess Jenny has to earn that reported $20M she is getting paid to sit on the judges panel this season.

However, she is positive the talent pool is better than ever with many amazing voices to wow both the judges and the fans alike! “It’s not like you find people just like that, but the ones that we found, we know are very special,” she declared.

The preview clip is below!

[Photo credit: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com]

ARE YOU EXCITED FOR SEASON 11 OF AMERICAN IDOL? DO YOU THINK THE JUDGES SHOULD BE A LITTLE HARDER ON THE PERFORMERS OR DO YOU PREFER A GENTLER APPROACH?

While New Jersey Governor Chris Christie received some backlash weeks ago for blocking a $420,000 tax credit that was intended for MTV hit show Jersey Shore, it turns out he has the full support of the state of Jersey after all!

According to new polls, New Jersey residents not only support Gov. Christie’s decision but they also feel the show is very bad for their state!

“Garden State voters agree overwhelmingly with Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to slam the door on ‘Snooki,’ ‘The Situation’ and the rest of the ‘Jersey Shore’ crew,” saidMaurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute which conducted the polls.

An overwhelming nearly 70 percent of voters polled think the show is bad for the state, while 71 percent agree with Christie’s decision to veto the tax credit citing the state should not pay $420,000 for a show that “perpetuates misconceptions about the state and its citizens.” Ouch!

Fortunately for the Jersey Shore gang, they do have an usual fan in former American Idol judge/current American IdolX-Factor judge Simon Cowell! But seriously American Idol and X-Factor are the same show no?

“I thought [Jersey Shore] was genius, absolute genius,” said Simon to MTV this week. “And whether you like the show or not, these kids are suddenly big, big stars. They just make me laugh.” No word yet on whether Simon is laughing at the cast or with them!

Simon goes on to add that Snookihas in fact inspired him on X-Factor. “Yeah, so that was the reason why I came to New Jersey: I wanted to find the next Snooki,” he says. Oh that Simon, always tongue-in-cheek! He is joking right?

And finally, move over Jill ZarinKelly Bensimon! There is a new “celebrity” cyber-bullying victim!

While bullying and cyber-bullying has become a hot topic and a serious issue in recent times, Vinny Guadagnino is now revealing his sad tale of cyber-bullying at the hands of some of his 2 million twitter followers! And yes he has 2 mil followers on twitter. Apparently Vinny, who chose to put his life on national television, feels negative tweets constitute as “cyber-bullying.”

“I get cyber-bullied every single second of the day!” Vinny tellsLife & Style. “Right now, if I go through my Twitter I guarantee that within two seconds I’ll find someone making fun of my friends and family and calling me the devil.”

Vinny goes on to add that being “cyber-bullied” is what encouraged him to join forces with MTV to help bring awareness to National Bullying Prevention month. “I want to get involved because I can relate,” he states. “This is about young people on social media and the different problems they have. I’ve been there, and I’m still there.”

Allrighty. A new episode of the Jersey Shore airs tonight on MTV at 10/9c.

TELL US – JERSEY SHORE RESIDENTS: ARE YOU ASHAMED OF THE JERSEY SHORE? DO YOU THINK SIMON WAS JOKING WITH HIS COMMENTS? IS VINNY A REAL VICTIM OF CYBER-BULLYING?

NeNe revealed to host Kit Hoover, that she is “almost single.” Despite being seen recently as a couple, NeNe maintains that her divorce from Gregg Leakes should be finalized “really soon, in the next couple weeks,” and she is excited to be “out there dating” again!

NeNe also discloses that she is definitely open to getting remarried! “I absolutely love being married, and I think love is a beautiful thing…” she tells Kit, gushing, “I love love. The sooner it comes the better!” And who is she hoping to find love with? Perhaps Anderson Cooper! Well, sure that might happen. Or maybe Simon Cowell! NeNe loves the menz with the monies! I’m surprised Andy Cohen didn’t make the list.

NeNe also talks Kim’s new spin-off and she must have practiced really, really hard to look neutral when the subject came up, because surprisingly she didn’t start yelling about Kim being trash and instead sort of, kind of, congratulated her. “I think that every woman needs to be independent. You need to have a job. If that’s what’s happening in her life, great.”

And reacting to the Real Housewives of New York City casting shake-up, Nene was honest in admitting it makes her a little nervous. “For them to take out some of the main characters that we’ve always been watching, it’s a little scary for me.” Perhaps she’s thinking she might be next!

Likely not, as NeNe reveals that season four of RHOA is “drama, drama, drama!” But she’s not giving away which housewife is getting the most camera time this season – besides herself, of course! My bets are on new housewife, Marlo Hampton for bringing the crazy!

Thoughts on NeNe’s interview? Are you buying the “divorce” from Gregg? Do you believe she is really happy for Kim? Will you be watching RHOA? I personally, CANNOT WAIT!